Photography by Owen Jones – Pictured above: Hats from Neighborhood Supply Co.

Skip the crowds at the big-box retailers and find one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your shopping list without leaving the neighborhood.

DO YOU WANT TO PAINT A SNOWMAN?

JulieAnn Bever has made handprint and footprint ceramic ornaments at her East Dallas studio since 2012. But with folks less likely to venture out this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, she’s offering take-and-make ornament kits for families to complete at home. The kit includes a 5-inch bisque snowman with three glaze colors, glazing tips and a paintbrush. Bever will fire it to a glossy finish, tie it with a ribbon and return it ready to hang on your Christmas tree for years to come.

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Cost: $24 / pintsizedprints.com

SWEET TREATS

Order chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon rolls from Salt Sweets created by neighbor Carrie DeCicco. Try out cookies from an assortment of nuts, fruit, candy, coconut and even bacon. The cinnamon rolls are served in a dozen, half dozen, three pack or in an adorable mini mason jar.

Cost: $5-$25, saltsweets.com

GOODBYE 2020 — HELLO 2021!

When Nancy Ellis was furloughed from her interior design job in March, she started going to White Rock Lake at sunrise to take pictures. They were such a success on Facebook, she turned them into a coffee table book that has sold more than 400 copies. Now, her prints are on a variety of products from greeting cards to calendars. Say good riddance to 2020 and usher in 2021 with tranquil photos of the lake each month. Maybe next year you can actually put that calendar to use.

Cost: $20 for calendar, $50 for book
Find her products at Talulah & HESS and Toasted Coffee + Kitchen Place orders at designellis@gmail.com

THE MARQUEE SAYS IT ALL

Shoppers at Texas Goods Company are actually supporting more than 20 other Texas-based small businesses, including LHHS alumnus Ellis Winstanley. The El Arroyo owner’s famous signs are available on magnets, coasters and in a book. The witty signs will keep family and friends laughing while supporting a Lake Highlands native.

Cost: Price varies texasgoodscompany.com

LOVE THY ’HOOD

Show some love to your neighborhood wherever you are with a hat from Neighborhood Supply Co. The family run business designs and sells custom and stylish goods for several Dallas neighborhoods, including Lakewood, Junius Heights, Little Forest Hills and White Rock Lake. The hats come in a variety of colors and styles.

Cost: $25-$30 / neighborhoodsupplyco.com

SAY ‘NO’ TO BOREDOM

After dealing with restless children during COVID-19, neighbor Susan Larkin created Let’s Go Co., a weekly resource she calls the antidote to monotony. Each box arrives with five “play” cards, four “make” cards and activities built around a weekly theme. Examples include Let’s Go Camping, Let’s Go Into the Ocean, Let’s Go Gardening, Let’s Go Into Space and Let’s Go Check the Weather. Larkin, a 2008 graduate of Lake Highlands High School, uses her background as a certified speech pathologist to create activities specially designed for ages 2-4. She worked in RISD junior highs and high schools until 2016, then moved to UTD’s Center for BrainHealth and Brain Performance Institute before starting her business.

Cost: One box/$36.50, monthly subscription/$32 per box facebook.com/letsgoco.shop/

DO YOU SHUCK AT CORNHOLE?

The latest cornhole craze hits Lake Highlands with CD’s Custom Woodwork. The store owned by LHHS alumnus Coleman Duckworth sells customized cornhole boards with everyone’s favorite football teams, alma maters or business logos. CD’s Custom Woodwork also sells a variety of personalized cutting boards, signs, games and furniture.

Cost: $200 for a cornhole set, $30-$70 for bags, $125-$200 for cutting boards facebook.com/CDsCustomWoodwork

EXPRESS YO’SELF

We Are The Missfits is a boutique store for kids and tweens. It sells different types of journals because owner Jonathan Bemis emphasizes self-expression. Shoppers can also find interactive toys and games along with clothing and costumes. Located in Lakeridge Village, the store opened in November last year with the purpose of selling unique toys and knick-knacks for educational and creative purposes.

Cost: Varies / wearethemissfits.com

MOVE OVER WHITECLAW

RancH20 is based on the popular ranch water cocktail. Neighbor Amelia Lettieri tasted half a dozen tequilas to find the right ingredients for her new company. RancH20’s canned cocktails contain 150 calo- ries. The Ranch Water and Vodka Soda is 7% alcohol content, and the Classic Marg is 6.5%. They are sold in four packs of 12-ounce cans.

Cost: $14 / ranch2ospirits.com

TAKE A PICTURE, IT’LL LAST LONGER

Digitize your family’s old home movies and share with loved ones through Dallas Media Center. The local business offers video, film and audio transfers along with photo, slide and negative scanning. For those wanting to offer memories for others, a store gift certificate is also avail- able for the holidays.

Cost: Varies / dallasmediacenter.com